A Word to Kill, Reduced to Ashes

"How could Clear Wind City allow a bunch of petty villains like you to run wild?!"

A young woman strode into the inn, bristling with aggression. It was none other than Zhang Lingyao.

The Crimson Yang Sect disciples were startled. Seeing that it was a woman who had entered, they couldn't help grinning wickedly.

"Foundation Establishment Early Stage? What's a weak woman like you doing trying to steal the spotlight? Why not have a few drinks with us brothers instead?"

The leading Crimson Yang Sect disciple reached out to put an arm around Zhang Lingyao.

Cold Qi poured from Zhang Lingyao. The autumn weather was fairly cool, but the people around her in the inn couldn't help shivering.

"Releasing cold Qi? Is that some kind of rare cultivation physique?"

The leading Crimson Yang Sect disciple was astonished. To think there was a superior immortal cultivation physique in a backwater corner like this!

"I never expected to find a rare cultivation physique in this little town. If we present you to the sect master, we'll surely be promoted on the spot!"

With that, the disciples drew their weapons, looking ready to seize her.

"Crimson Yang Sect disciples, behaving like this-are you courting death?!"

How could Zhang Xu allow them to run rampant? He waved his hand, and the steward and more than a dozen Qi Condensation servants surged forward. Though they were no match for the disciples, they were still ready to fight to the death!

"You ants dare?"

The Crimson Yang Sect disciples could hardly stand for this, and swords were drawn and bows bent.

At the sight of this, the people inside and outside the inn hurried far away, afraid of being caught up in it. Only...

"Noisy."

After watching the whole scene, Ye Zichen finally spoke.

No one had noticed that someone was sitting in the corner!

"Hm? Why's there still someone over there? Hey, if you know what's good for you, get the hell out! Can't you see we're busy? Watch yourself, or I'll cut you down!"

The Crimson Yang Sect disciple was furious. With tensions running so high, there was actually a mortal sitting there drinking?!

Zhang Xu and the others suddenly noticed Ye Zichen too, and were overjoyed.

"Those who disturb this seat's quiet cultivation shall not enter the cycle of reincarnation."

Ye Zichen spoke calmly, without the slightest hint of emotion.

The moment the words left his mouth, the seven Crimson Yang Sect disciples burst apart before they could even begin fighting!

The next second, it was as if they had never existed there at all. Not a single drop of blood could be found! Ye Zichen had denied them even reincarnation.

Before they could recover from the shock of seeing that the senior was here, they heard the sound of bodies bursting apart.

Everyone turned around. The Crimson Yang Sect disciples were nowhere to be seen, and even the dirty footprints they had left on the floor had vanished!

Everyone's breathing grew rapid, but no one dared make a sound.

Fear! Overwhelming fear!

A single word decided life and death!

They had never seen the senior kill anyone before. Now that they had, they saw that he didn't even need to lift a hand!

The scene before their eyes washed over their minds again and again.

Dead silence...

The first to speak was City Lord Zhang Xu, drenched in sweat.

Zhang Xu swallowed and said in a trembling voice, "I... I didn't know you were here, my lord. Please forgive me! M-my lord, your power reaches the heavens. Thank you for eliminating this threat and benefiting the people!"

Glancing at them, Ye Zichen poured himself another cup. If he wished it, even an immortal emperor wouldn't be able to detect him!

Once she had calmed down, Zhang Lingyao felt for the first time such a longing for another person's strength! She had to become stronger!

Then she smiled and said, "My lord, your methods are unmatched. Now that those Crimson Yang Sect disciples are dead, please come to the residence. Tomorrow, we will hold a banquet and give you a proper welcome!"

Ye Zichen picked up his cup and took a small sip before saying, "In that case, sorry for the trouble."

With the entertainment at the inn over, Ye Zichen had no interest in staying any longer and vanished from their sight.

The next day,

The city lord's residence was bustling. Zhang Xu, who had invited the city's four great households to the banquet, was receiving the arriving guests at the entrance.

After all the guests had taken their seats, Ye Zichen walked slowly to the entrance of the city lord's residence.

Even without doing anything, his white robes and his bearing, like an immortal descended to the mortal world, still drew everyone in the residence to look at him.

Everyone wanted to see the magnificence of this mighty figure.

Although the great households all knew that there was such a senior at the city lord's residence, none of them had truly come to know him or seen him in person all this time.

Once Ye Zichen entered the main hall, everyone greeted him respectfully, but no one dared take a step forward.

"My lord, please take a seat."

Zhang Xu stood to one side, inviting Ye Zichen to take the seat of honor.

After Ye Zichen sat down,

Zhang Lingyao smiled at everyone and said, "Yesterday, my lord helped us eliminate a threat. Today, we have specially arranged this banquet to receive him."

With that, everyone began talking at once, their conversation revolving around the man in the seat of honor, who was like an immortal descended to the mortal world.

Ye Zichen said nothing throughout. He glanced at the crowd, then picked up his tea and drank.

About halfway through the banquet,

A middle-aged man seated at the far end bowed and cupped his fists toward Ye Zichen before saying, "My lord, your power reaches the heavens. We truly admire you, and seeing your magnificence today is an immense fortuitous opportunity! Now that all four great households are here, I venture to ask, would you be willing to give us guidance in immortal cultivation?"

The other three household heads, Wang, Yang, and Zhao, listened intently. They all wanted to cultivate immortality.

Longevity was what everyone sought, but the Foundation Establishment cultivators hired by their households had never managed to teach the four household heads to embark on the path of immortal cultivation. Their comprehension was too poor.

As soon as he said this,

Zhang Xu shouted to stop him, "Li Hao, what are you doing? Do you know the consequences of this?"

After listening, Ye Zichen said coldly, "Your comprehension is poor, and your Root Bones are no good. Yet you dream of cultivating immortality?"

Looking toward the four households, Ye Zichen addressed his words to the four great lineages present.

"Hmph! Do you think that just because you dealt with a few Crimson Yang Sect lackeys, you can do anything?"

Li Hao, the head of the Li Household, grew angry at his tone and spoke bluntly.

"Now that the Crimson Yang Sect's people have died in Clear Wind City, and the power behind it is the Tyrant Saber Sect, how are we supposed to face the wrath of the Crimson Yang Sect, let alone the Tyrant Saber Sect, when the time comes? Can he deal with such trouble alone?"

The Li Household head's voice grew louder and louder. After years of planning, his Li Household had finally managed to send his son into the Tyrant Saber Sect and gain such a backer.

The Crimson Yang Sect was under the Tyrant Saber Sect, and with such an opportunity, perhaps the Crimson Yang Sect could help Li Hao and his Li Household become an immortal cultivation Aristocratic Clan.

"Li Hao! How dare you! You're courting death!"

Zhang Xu was beside himself with rage and attacked, aiming straight for Li Hao's life! The steward and servants also moved to take Li Hao down.

Seeing that a fight was about to break out, the other three great households hurriedly slipped away. They had no strength to speak of and didn't want to die here.

The next second, however, Zhang Xu was flung back by a force far beyond his own! He spat blood and fell to the ground, the steward also fainted, and the servants were killed or injured in an instant.

Zhang Xu stared at Li Hao in shock. "How is that possible?! Golden Core?!"

Li Hao leaped into the front courtyard of the main hall,

and said arrogantly, "A Yellow-Rank Realm-Breaking Pill can temporarily raise me to Golden Core Peak. I've already notified the Crimson Yang Sect's sect master. Today, all of you must die! Clear Wind City belongs to my Li Household!"

A tyrannical presence erupted, and everyone in the courtyard who had not reached Foundation Establishment died from it.

"G-Golden Core Peak!"

Zhang Lingyao was stunned for a moment, then immediately calmed down.

Against such an opponent, she, who was only at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, might be no match.

But she would not back down. Perhaps she could do it!